BAZ BAMIGBOYE: Ben Whishaw bids to revive magic of Freddie Mercury

Ben Whishaw will be hoping to show that he is the champion when he screen-tests today for the role of Freddie Mercury in a film about the phenomenally successful rock artist.

Whishaw, who played Q in the hit Bond film Skyfall, has to pass muster not only with the movie’s financial backers in Hollywood, but also with Queen band members Brian May and Roger Taylor, who are closely involved with the project

May has already publicly expressed his wish for the classically trained Whishaw to portray Mercury, who died in 1991.

Ben Whishaw will screen test today for the role of Freddie Mercury

However, Whishaw has to be able to satisfy all the varied participants, including Los Angeles-based producer Graham King.

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The matter of who will direct the film is the subject of intense negotiations, with rumours suggesting it will be Dexter Fletcher. The film audition takes place in London and in a way Whishaw has been honing his act on a nightly basis, as he plays the role of Baby in the revival of Jez Butterworth’s play Mojo at the Harold Pinter Theatre.

He’s brilliant as the baby-faced but menacing gangster. He sings a couple of numbers — They Call It A Teenage Crush and Drinkin’ Wine Spo-Dee-O-Dee — and he does a mean jive in front of a jukebox.

Brian May has publicly expressed his desire for Ben Whishaw (pictured) to play Freddie Mercury

Today’s test, at which Whishaw will have to sing, is all very sensitive and delicate, and no one involved wanted to discuss it. However, I hear many of those connected to the project believe he would rock in the part.

‘He’s a chameleon — he can do anything!’ one admirer said.

At one point, Sacha Baron Cohen was going to play Mercury, but that didn’t work out.

The film, as yet unnamed, looks at the formation of Queen and runs through to their extraordinary gig at Live Aid in 1985.

The highlight of their set — in fact, possibly the highlight of the whole event — was Mercury singing We Are The Champions.

There’s also some early unconfirmed chatter that some of those close to the film like the idea of Robert Pattinson portraying guitarist May, though the actor is busy with several other projects and I hear there are other actors who also fancy the role.

Lenny Henry and David Suchet are going to kick-off a series of West End one-night stands.

Over the past few years, Henry has embarked on a life in the theatre, tackling such serious roles as Othello, and Troy Maxson in August Wilson’s superb Fences.

Suchet, who just completed his long running stint as Hercule Poirot for ITV, often returns to the stage. Last year, he played James Tyrone in Long Day’s Journey Into Night.

Both stars will be the subject of Encounters: Performers On Performance, a limited series in which actors will be interviewed by Fiona Lindsay on the stage of the Lyric Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue.

Producer Kim Poster told me: ‘It’s an intimate conversation about an actor’s life and craft in the entertainment business.

‘The artist in question will dictate whether clips are shown, or whether they just sit and talk with Fiona. It’s very much done on a bespoke basis.’

Henry’s Encounter will take place on Monday, January 20. Suchet’s turn to be in the spotlight will come on February 24.

Ms Poster said she hopes the Encounters: Performers On Performance series will continue for six months in the first instance, with all interviews taking place at the Lyric on a Monday evening.

The Encounters will be filmed for Digital Theatre and, eventually, be available for sale online.

Michael Gambon, Stanley Tucci and Sofie Grabol (left), who lead the cast of the ambitious drama Fortitude, which will shoot on location in Iceland early in the New Year.

The 13-part series is written by Simon Dold, who wrote the dark and dangerous Low Winter Sun.

Fortitude is being called ‘Broadchurch in the Arctic’, because it involves a murder in a close-knit community. Local and British police work — almost together — to solve the shocking crime.

Ms Grabol, who played Detective Inspector Sarah Lund in the award-winning series The Killing, will play the town’s mayor in Fortitude.

It’s big, kick-ass TV that’s being produced by Sky and the American cable channel Starz.